Can-opener.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904,

G. H. JAQUITH. CAN OPENER. APPLICATION rnlgn 5,111.23, 1904.

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A TTORNEHS v PATENTED SEPT. e, 1904. G. H. JAQUI'TH.

CAN OPENER APPLICATION FILED JAIf. 23, 1904,

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Patented September 6, 1904.

UNITED STATES, PATENT O FICE.

GEORGE HORACE JAQUITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 769,166, datedSeptember 6,1904.

Application fil d January 23, 1904..

To all whom, it. may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE IIoRAoE JA- QUITI-I, acitizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements inCan-Openers, of which the following is a specificatiomreference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to can-openers, the object thereof being toprovide an efficient device of this character adapted for effectivelyand quickly opening or cutting away parts of metallic cans, whereby thecontents may be readily removed.

The device is simple in construction, durable and inexpensive, andadaptable for successful use in connection'with all varieties of Thedevice comprises a rodhaving a rack and an end stop, a slide movable onsaid rod and embodying a vertical spur, arigidly-fixed horizontal knife,and means carrying 'said parts, the spur adjustable to and from theknife for the accommodation of cans of clifferent diameters.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view illustrating one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation thereof, shown partly in sectional elevation. Fig. 8 is a planview, partly in sectional elevatiomof another form of the device. Fig.4C is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevationtaken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a side elevationillustrating a slightly-modified example of the device, and Fig. 7 is aperspective View illustrating the mode of operating the invention. Fig.8 is aplan view of a further modification. Fig. 9 is a side'viewthereof, and Fig. 10 is an endview of Fig. 8.

In the practice ofmy invention in each form of the device I'provide,primarily, a handle and" an elongated' rod with a rack formed integraltherewith. In the example illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingsthe bar A and below the same. is securely held in place by means ofscrews Serial No. 190,276. (No model.)

ingsthe rack is formed on one edge of the rod carrying the slide, andthis said rack may be. formed by semlclrc'ular recesses, as 1, or saidrecesses-may be extended at an angle, as shown r by 1 Fig. 8 of thedrawings. This latter form of rack obviates all liability of accidentaldisengagement of the slide and rack during the operation of using thedevice. The handle part A, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, isconsiderably thicker than the rod A, and it is provided with anelongated opening which not only lightens the structure and saves metal,but also provides looped means for hanging the device to a nail or otherextension. On the under surface of the end of the handle part contiguousto the rod A is formed a recess a for receiving a normally fixed butpreferably removable knife B, which is composed of tempered steel andhas a cutting edge 5 of angular contour and extended beyond the handle Aand-a laterally-extended lug 6 to limit the inward movement of the knifeinto the can-body when the device is in use. The said knife is extendedparallel with This knife 2, whereby it may be removed for purposes ofsharpening or renewal, if desired; but I ,may employ rivets as afastening means.

sembled; but it can be readily connected and v disconnected through themedium of the opening a when the knife B is removed or before said knifeis placed when same is held by rivets.

IOO

In the example of the invention illustrated by the remaining figures ofthe'drawings the handle A and rod A are formed separately and connectedby means of the tapered extension a of the rod A and a ferrule a. Inthis arrangement of the device the slide embodies the spur C, having theshoulders c and shank 0 and upper and lower plates 0 0"; but said platesare elongated and connected by an integral end Wall 0 arranged oppositethe pin 0", whereby the slide may be moved transversely relative to therack for purposes of adjustment, while at the same time it isnon-removable, because of a stop 3, located at the free end of, the rodA In lieu of the stop 3 I may employ a metallic loop D, which is rivetedto the end of the rod A and has an integrally-formed knife D,

which may be employed for cutting away the lids of cans of rectangularor square contour, the end (Z adapted for engagement around the edge ofthe can. This example of the device is illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, and 10of the drawings, and in this structure the knife end is embedded in thehandle to provide a very strong and operable device.

In the structure illustrated by Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings the rod Ais flat throughout its entire length, and the knife B, which isconnected thereto by means of the screws or rivets, as 2, has a verticalbend Z2 conneeting its two horizontal parts, whereby the cutting edge 7)is located below the rod A so that a cut may be made peripherally aroundthe can below the top thereof.

In the example illustrated by Figs. 6 and 9 the rod itself has avertical bend at and a hori zontal offset 5 extended therefrom forengagement with the knife to maintain the same in proper relativeposition.

In the operation of the invention the spur C is driven through thecenter of the can-top E, with its lower plate resting on said cantop.Then through the medium of the handle the knife is driven into the sideof the can, and force then exerted against the handle in the directionof the arrow as, Fig. 7 of the drawings, carries the rack intoengagement with the pin 0 and maintains such engagement until an annularcut or incision is made in the can-body E, the shank c of the spuracting as a fulcrum and the shoulders c preventing removal of the spuruntil an entire revolution has been made, whereupon'said spur can bereadily removed through the elongated incision made thereby in the firstinstance.

The fixed arrangement of the knife and the transversely and horizontallymovable spur renders this device not only readily and automaticallyadjustable to different sizes of cans, but provides practically h'xedrelative arrangement of the said spur and knife during the operation ofcutting the incision around the can, which greatly facilitates theprocess of cutting and produces a smooth edge on the out part of thebody of the can, whereby contents of any character may be readilyremoved.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can-opener comprising a handle, a rod having a rack thereon, afixed knife having an angular cutting edge and arranged parallel withsaid rod beneath the same, and a slide on said rod and embodying upperand lower plates, a pin for engaging the rack of the rod, a spur offlattened arrow-head contour and having lateral shoulders and a shank,whereby said spur may be driven into a can-top and retained thereinduring the operation of cutting an annular incision, substantially asshown and described.

2. in a can-opener, the combination, with the handle and rod having therack thereon, and the fixed knife having the angular edge, of the slidelongitudinally and transversely movable on said rod and having the pinfor engaging the rack, upper and lower plates and spur embodying thearrow-head formation and shank, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a can-opener, the combination with the handle and rod having arack, and an end stop, and the fixed knife having the angular cuttingedge and lug for engagement with the side wall of the can, of the slidelongitmlinally and transversely movable on said rod and having the pinfor engaging the rack, substantially as shown and described.

4. A can-opener comm'ising a handle, a rod having a rack embodyingangularly-extended recesses, and an end stop, a knife having an angularcutting edge and arranged parallel with and below said rod, a slidelongitudinally and transversely movable on said rod and having a pin forengaging the rack and a spur of arrow-head contour, substantially asshown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of l)eeemher, A. I).1903.

GEORGE HORACE JAQUITH.

\Vitnesses:

HosuA \V. \NmLLs, CHARLES C. SKIILWELL.

